Hat rack

ABSTRACT

A hat rack for holding a brimmed hat includes a pair of base rods arranged in a spaced apart parallel configuration. A first support rod is coupled to respective first ends of the pair of base rods and a second support rod is coupled to respective second ends of the pair of base rods. Both support rods have a substantially similar configuration, namely, a pair of upstanding support arms connected by a top segment. Each pair of support arms are inclined toward one another as they extend from the base rods to a corresponding top segment. Further, the support rods proper are inclined toward one another. A hat of the type having a crown and brim, such as a western hat, may be supported upon the top segments. Another embodiment includes a similarly configured support rod pivotally coupled to a wall or door mountable base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to hat holders and, moreparticularly, to a hat rack for securely holding a brimmed hat in alevel position above a support surface while maintaining the shape ofthe hat.

[0002] Various devices have been proposed in the art for holding hats ofvarious types. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes,existing devices do not provide a hat rack that can effectively hold awestern-style brimmed hat in a completely level, elevated configurationsuch as for thorough drying and that can hold such a hat withoutdamaging its brim or crown.

[0003] Therefore, it is desirable to have a hat rack which can support abrimmed hat in an elevated, level configuration to aid in proper andthorough drying. Further, it is desirable to have a hat rack which cansupport a brimmed hat without damaging or altering the shape of itscrown or brim.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] A hat rack capable of supporting a hat of the type having a crownand brim includes a pair of base rods that are spaced apart in aparallel configuration, each rod including first and second ends. Afirst support rod is coupled to respective first ends of the pair ofbase rods while a second support rod is coupled to respective secondends thereof. Each support rod includes a pair of support arms inclinedtoward each other and connected by a top segment at upper ends thereof.In addition, the support rods proper are inwardly inclined toward eachother. This configuration enables a brimmed hat to be supported upon topsegments of the support rods. The inclination of the support armsmaintains the hat in an elevated configuration so as to promote thoroughdrying when necessary. Another embodiment of the invention includes awall-mountable base having a singular support rod, the singular supportrod having a configuration substantially similar to the support rods ofthe tabletop embodiment.

[0005] Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a hatrack for securely supporting a brimmed hat.

[0006] Another object of this invention is to provide a hat rack, asaforesaid, having a tabletop construction which can support a brimmedhat above the tabletop for promoting thorough drying of a wet hat.

[0007] Still another object of this invention is to provide a hat rack,as aforesaid, having a strong and durable construction that is notsubject to rust or corrosion.

[0008] Yet another object of this invention is to provide a hat rack, asaforesaid, which maintains the shape of a brimmed hat while holding it.

[0009] Other objects and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration andexample, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hat rack according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a front view of the hat rack as in FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a hat rack according to anotherembodiment of the present invention in a hat-holding configuration; and

[0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hat rack as in FIG. 3 in astorage configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] A hat rack according to the present invention will now bedescribed in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4 of theaccompanying drawings. A hat rack 10 according to one embodiment of thepresent invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and includes a pair of baserods 12. Each base rod 12 includes a ⅝″ tubular configuration althoughany configuration that would provide a stable support when placed on aflat support surface would also be suitable. Each base rod 12 ispreferably constructed of wood although any strong and durable materialwould also work. Each base rod 12 includes opposed first 14 and second16 ends. Further, each end of a base rod defines a recess for receivinga corresponding end of a respective support rod, as will be furtherdescribed below.

[0015] A first support rod 18 includes a pair of first support rod ends20 connected to first ends 14 of respective base rods 12 (FIGS. 1 and2). Preferably, the first support rod ends 20 include configurationscomplementary to those of respective base rod end recesses and arecoupled thereto. The first support rod 18 further includes a pair ofsupport arms 22 extending upwardly from respective first support rodends 20, the support arms being gradually inclined toward one another atdistal ends thereof relative to the base rods 12. A first support armtop segment 24 interconnects distal ends of the pair of support arms 22.The inclination of the support arms 22 may be further understood in thatthe length of the first support arm top segment 24 is less than thedistance between the parallel base rods 12 (FIG. 1). The first supportrod 18 essentially presents a symmetrical construction having aninverted generally U-shaped configuration. The first support rod 18preferably includes a {fraction (3/16)}″ metal construction such as adurable wire although a construction having different diameter or of adurable plastic material would also work.

[0016] The hat rack 10 further includes a second support rod 26 having aconstruction substantially similar to the construction of the firstsupport rod 18 described above. More particularly, the second supportrod 26 includes a pair of opposed ends 28 coupled to respective secondends 16 of the base rods 12 (FIG. 1). The second support rod 26 includesa pair of support arms 30 extending upwardly from respective secondsupport rod ends 28 and includes a top segment 32 interconnecting distalends thereof relative to the base rods 12. The support arms 30 of thesecond support rod 26 are gradually inclined toward one another as theyextend upwardly. The metal construction of the first 18 and second 26support rods may be coated with polyvinyl chloride so as to provide asoft grip texture and to inhibit rust and corrosion from formingthereon.

[0017] It should be appreciated that the first 18 and second 26 supportrods include a bent configuration intermediate respective ends andsupport arms such that the first 18 and second 26 support rods extendangularly upwardly and are inclined toward one another (FIG. 2).Therefore, the support arms of each support rod are upwardly inclinedtoward one another and the support rods themselves are inclined towardone another. Both of these configurations contribute to properly andsecurely supporting a brimmed hat above a support surface.

[0018] In use, the hat rack 10 may be supported upon the spaced apartbase rods 12 for positioning upon a support surface such as a tabletop,floor, or the like. It is understood that the base rods 12 include asufficient length and are spaced apart in parallel so as to provide astable base. The top segments 24, 32 of the first 18 and second 26support rods, respectively, are spaced apart from one another due to theinclination of the support rods toward one another so as to receive thecrown of a brimmed hat. Further, the inclination of the support arms 22,30 of each support rod 18, 32 hold the brimmed hat in a generally levelconfiguration above the support surface. This allows thorough drying ofa wet hat and maintains the overall shape of the hat without damagethereto.

[0019] Another embodiment of the hat rack 40 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.The hat rack 40 according to this embodiment includes a base member 42configured for mounting to a wall or door, such as with screws or thelike. The hat rack 40 includes a continuous support rod 44 havingopposed ends 46 pivotally coupled to the base member 42, such as withhinges 48. Thus, the support rod 44 is pivotally movable between astorage/non-use configuration (FIG. 4) and a use configuration (FIG. 3).Having a construction substantially similar to the support rodsdescribed previously, the support rod 44 includes a pair of support arms50 inclined toward one another as they extend away from the base member42. An end segment 52 interconnects distal ends of the support arm 50relative to the base member 42. Therefore, the crown of a brimmed hatmay be received by the end segment 52 with the support arms 50 holdingthe hat securely in place and without damaging the crown or brim.

[0020] Still another embodiment of a hat rack 58 according to thepresent invention is shown in FIG. 5 and includes a constructionsubstantially similar to the construction first described above andshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 except as otherwise noted below. The support arms22, 30 of the first 18 and second 26 support rods are pivotally coupledto respective ends 20, 28 thereof with respective hinges 60, 62 suchthat the support rods may be pivotally moved between a storageconfiguration (FIG. 5) and a use configuration (FIG. 1). Thus, thetabletop hat rack 58 may be selectively collapsed when not needed.

[0021] It is understood that while certain forms of this invention havebeen illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofaras such limitations are included in the following claims and allowablefunctional equivalents thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is as follows:
 1. A hat rack for use inholding a brimmed hat, comprising: a pair of base rods arranged in aspaced apart parallel configuration relative to one another for stablesupport on a substantially flat support surface, each base rod havingopposed first and second ends; a continuous first support rod havingopposed first support rod ends coupled to respective first ends of saidpair of base rods, said first support rod having a pair of upwardlyextending first support rod arms gradually inclined toward one anotherand having a first support rod top segment connecting distal ends ofsaid pair of first support rod arms relative to said respective firstends of said pair of base rods; a continuous second support rod havingopposed second support rod ends coupled to respective second ends ofsaid pair of base rods, said second support rod having a pair ofupwardly extending second support rod arms gradually inclined toward oneanother and having a second support rod top segment connecting distalends of said pair of second support rod arms relative to said respectivesecond ends of said pair of base rods; and said first and second supportrods being inwardly inclined toward one another, whereby said first andsecond support rod top segments are situated to support a crown of thebrimmed hat.
 2. The hat rack as in claim 1 wherein said first and secondsupport rods include a metal construction coated with a layer ofpolyvinyl chloride for inhibiting rust and corrosion thereon.
 3. The hatrack as in claim 1 wherein said pair of base rods include a woodenconstruction, said first and second ends of respective base rodsdefining recesses adapted to receive corresponding ends of respectivesupport rods.
 4. The hat rack as in claim 1 wherein said first supportrod top segment includes a length smaller than a distance between saidpair of base rods.
 5. The hat rack as in claim 1 wherein each base rodincludes a tubular configuration.
 6. The hat rack as in claim 1 whereinsaid first and second support rods include generally inverted U-shapedconfigurations.
 7. The hat rack as in claim 1 wherein said first andsecond support rods have a substantially similar configuration such thatsaid first and second support rod top segments are adapted to supportthe brimmed hat in a substantially level configuration.
 8. A hat rackfor use in holding a brimmed hat, comprising: a pair of base rodsarranged in a spaced apart parallel configuration relative to oneanother for stable support on a substantially flat support surface, eachbase rod having opposed first and second ends; a continuous firstsupport rod having opposed first support rod ends coupled to respectivefirst ends of said pair of base rods, said first support rod having apair of first support rod arms extending upwardly from respective firstsupport rod ends and being gradually inclined toward one another andhaving a first support rod top segment connecting distal ends of saidpair of first support rod arms relative to said respective first ends ofsaid pair of base rods; a continuous second support rod having opposedsecond support rod ends coupled to respective second ends of said pairof base rods, said second support rod having a pair of second supportrod arms extending upwardly from respective second support rod ends andbeing gradually inclined toward one another and having a second supportrod top segment connecting distal ends of said pair of second supportrod arms relative to said respective second ends of said pair of baserods; wherein said first and second support rods include a metalconstruction coated with a layer of polyvinyl chloride for inhibitingrust and corrosion thereon; and wherein said first and second supportrods include a substantially similar configuration and are inwardlyinclined toward one another, whereby said first and second support rodtop segments are situated to receive a crown of the brimmed hat and tosupport the brimmed hat in a level configuration relative to saidsupport surface.
 9. The hat rack as in claim 8 wherein said pair of baserods include a wooden construction, said first and second ends ofrespective base rods defining recesses adapted to receive correspondingends of respective support rods.
 10. The hat rack as in claim 8 whereinsaid first support rod top segment includes a length smaller than adistance between said pair of base rods.
 11. The hat rack as in claim 10wherein each base rod includes a tubular configuration.
 12. The hat rackas in claim 10 wherein said first and second support rods includegenerally inverted U-shaped configurations.
 13. The hat rack as in claim8 wherein: said first support rod ends are pivotally coupled to saidrespective first ends of said pair of base rods; and said second supportrod ends are pivotally coupled to said respective second ends of saidpair of base rods.
 14. A hat rack for use in holding a hat of a typehaving a crown and a brim, comprising: a base adapted to be mounted to avertical support surface; a continuous support rod having a pair of armspivotally connected to said base and extending outwardly therefrom ingradual inclination toward one another, said arms being pivotallymovable between a storage configuration adjacent said base and ahat-holding configuration generally perpendicular to said base, saidsupport rod having an end segment connecting said pair of arms at distalends thereof relative to said base, said arms and end segment beingconfigured to receive the crown of the hat and to maintain an intendedshape of the hat when received thereby.
 15. The hat rack as in claim 14wherein said support rod includes a metal construction coated inpolyvinyl chloride for inhibiting rust and corrosion.
 16. The hat rackas in claim 14 wherein a distance between said distal ends of said pairof arms is smaller than a distance between proximal ends of said pair ofarms relative to said base.